Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin

Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) is a Sunni Muslim Afghan political party and militant group, founded in 1977 by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Based out of Paktia Province, Laghman Province, Kunar Province, and the city of Jalalabad, the HIG was one of the major Mujahideen factions during the Soviet-Afghan War, being well-financed by Iran and other enemies of the USSR. Gulbuddin would attempt to seize power for himself in 1992 by attacking Kabul ahead of the other Mujahideen forces, and Iran, Pakistan, and other Islamic countries gave him their support. However, the Taliban sidelined HIG from Afghan politics during its rise to power, and HIG would turn into a militant group. After 2001, HIG militantly resisted the United States' military occupation during the Afghanistan War, and it was responsible for many ambushes and IED attacks.